TRANSPORTATION SERVICE FOR THE ELDERLY RUN BY SENIOR CITIZENS

Two neighborhoods on the far east side of the city of Detroit, through their east area coalition, the Community Resource Assistance Center, organized an independent, privately financed, public corporation--Senior Citizen Area Transit (SCAT)--for the purpose of purchasing a van to serve the daily transportation needs of elderly residents. SCAT purchased the vehicle for the much needed service and laid the groundwork for a transit system that now serves the entire east side of the city of Detroit. The program is innovative because it is run by volunteer senior citizens. The service is free of charge to citizens who are 55 years of age and older. The process by which the organization was formed, funding sources, cooperative agreements, recruitment of staff, and organizational issues are described. The cost and service characteristics of the emerging program are summarized and evaluated. Most important, the program adheres to UMTA's directive on privatization.